Coin-controlled machine.



G. KERN.

com coNmoLLED MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7| 196- s ,224,1 l 5., Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ms Noun/s Ferns co.. Puma-uma.. wAsumc mN. n, c,

l "Il M55@ "ini GEORGE KERN, OF PERU, ILLINOIS.

COIN-CONTROLLED MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 241i, it?.

Application led March 17, 1916. Serial No. 84,790.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE KERN, a subject of the -Emperor of Germany,and a resident of the city of Peru, in the county of La Salle and Stateof Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inCoin-Controlled Machines; and I do hereby declare that the followingdescription of my said invention, taken in connection with theaccompanying sheet of drawing, forms a full, clear, and exactspecification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates generally to improvements in coin controlledmachines and it consists, essentially, in the novel and peculiarcombination of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter firstfully set forth and described and then pointed out in the claims.

My invention relates to improvements in coin controlled machines andmore particularly to machines of this character which are utilized toattract customers or increase the sales of commodities.

The types of machines of this class which appear to be most numerous andwhich are used to vend various articles such as chewing gum, matches,candies and other salable merchandise, have a vending mechanism whicheither automatically or manually supplies the articles from the machine,and a coin controlled slot mechanism, the operation of which by' theintroduction of a proper coin either actuates the vending mechanism, orreleases said vending mechanism so that it may be manually actuated toeject the article.

My present improved machine is of a different style in that it does notform a receptacle for the merchandise to be vended, merely serving as asafety depository for the coin.

However, in order to attract the attention of customers, to increase thesales of a certain article, or to introduce an article to the public, itis provided with an indicating mechanism which is actuated as a coin isdeposited and indicates whether the customer is to receive one of thearticles he is purchasing ypor is to receive in addition, as a premium,one or more eXtra articles.

The objects, therefore, of myinvention are tofproduce an attractivemachine which will secure the attention of likely customers, which willform a convenient and safe receptacle for thecoins, and will-at times bymeans of an indicator entitle the customer to a premium of one or moreeXtra articles besides the article purchased with his coin.

The embodiment of my improved machine herein shown and described isespecially adapted for introducing a new brand of cigars or increasingthe sales of an old brand already on the market.

However, it may be 'employed for vending various other merchandise, thepurchaser securing an article of proper value in every instance forhis-money such as a five cent cigar for a nickel and in certaininstances being given as a premium one or more eXtra articles or cigars.

The above and other objects I accomplish as hereinafter set forth in thefollowing description and as particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form apart of this application.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan of my improved vending machine.Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the vending machine. Fig. 3 is a top planview of the supporting plate or disk with the mechanism mounted thereondetached from the remainder of the machine. Fig. -i is a side or edgeview of the plate and mechanism shown in Fig. 3, with the mechanism inposition to be set by a coin to operate the indicator. Fig. 5 is anenlarged detached view of the segmental gear for operating theindicator. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with a coinintroduced, and the mechanism in readiness to operate the indicator whenthe coin drops into the receptacle beneath the supporting plate. Fig. 7is a bottom view of the supporting plate or disk showing the varioussprings arranged upon the under surface of the said plate and connectedto the cranks,

arms, and catches mounted upon the plate for moving said cranks, arms,and catches in one direction, the springs being shown in a positioncorresponding to the position of the cranks, arms and catches in Fig. 3.Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the supporting plate or disk similar to Fig.7, but with the springs in a position corresponding to the position ofthe cranks, arms, and catches, in Fig. G. Fig. 9 is a sectionalelevation of the mechanism that rotates the index pointer, said figurebeing drawn on line 9-9 of Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a plan view ofthe catchlever detached, and Fig. 11 is a similar view ofthe coin moving leverdetached. Fig. 12 is a 4plan view of the dog that connects the ratchetshaped ring to the flywheel, the figure being on an enlarged scale. Fig.13 is a side view of the same.

Like parts are indicated by corresponding characters or symbols ofreference in all the figures of the drawings.

The base 1, of my improved machine, 1 prefer to make in the flatcircular form shown, and to provide it with a raised circ-ular flange 2,which constitutes the annular side of the coin receptacle.

Upon the flange 2, 1 detachably lit a circular supporting plate or disk3, which forms the top of the coin receptacle, and also serves as asupport for the slot and indicating mechanism.

Over the plate or disk 3, 1 place a cover 4, which is provided with acenter dome 5, having a top 6, of glass or other transparent material.

YVithin the dome, a circular dial 7, is arranged in horizontal'position,said dial having thereon a series of indicating graduations. Un the dialshown in Fig. l, these graduations 8 are found, which are locatedequidistant from each other and extend radially from the center. Thesegraduations have the numbers 2, 2, and 3, marked thereon, which indicatetheir value.

The top cover, instead of being provided with an elongated slot throughwhich a coin may be slipped edgewise, has a circular opening 9, into andthrough which the coin is dropped in a horizontal position.

The supporting plate and cover are detachably fastened in place upon theflanged base, by nuts 10, which are secured upon the upper extremitiesof vertical posts l1, which extend up from the base, and i'it throughopenings in the supporting plate and cover.

The supporting plate 3 is of a. flat, circular form, the slot andindicating mechanism being mounted upon said plate, and the springs foroperating and tensioning various parts of said mechanism being arrangedbeneath, and supported from, the under surface of the plate.

A central dial disk 12, considerably smaller in circumference than theplate 3, is supported in a horizontal and parallel plane above the plate3, by vertical posts 13, said disk forming` the bottom of the chamber inthe dome 5 of the cover, and upon which the dial 7 is mounted.

The dial is surrounded by an annular ring or band 14, which forms acircular, up-

standing, wall, and is provided with ratchet A central, vertical, shaft16, is journal'edl in the supporting plate 3, and dial disk 12, andcarries a horizontal pointer, or indicat ing hand 17, at its upperextremity, which extends over the face of the dial with its outer endprojecting over the ratchet teeth 15 of the band 14, as shown in Figs. 1and 9.

A pinion 1S, is loosely mounted on the shaft 16 near its lower end, anda ratchet ring 19, secured to the pinion 18, is arranged on said shaftbetween the pinion and the dial disk 12.

A manually operated coin moving lever 20, has an enlarged innerextremity 21, provided with an opening through which the shaft 16loosely passes to pivotally mount the arm in place upon the supportingplate. Said lever has an enlargement 22, extending laterally from oneside of its inne'r extremity, and provided with a curved rack of teeth23, and a curved arm 24, extending laterally from its outer end. Avertical pin 25, projects up from the lever 2O and extends through acurved slot 26, in the top cover, and it is` adapted to be grasped bythe operator to turn said lever on its pivot.

A locking arm 27, is pivoted at one end to the supporting plate, and hasa lateral lug 28, which normally engages in a notch 29, in the side ofthe arm 24, and locks said lever against movement see Fig. 3,permitting, however, of a slight initial movement thereof, the extent ofwhich is limited by the length of the curved notch 29 in the member 24,of the coin moving lever 20.( The outerl portion 30 of the arm 27 iscurved, and is turned outwardly on its pivot to unlock the lever 20 bythe introduction of a suitable coin between said curved portion, and astationary inner wall strip 31.

The lever 20 is normally maintained in,

and primarily returned to its normal position, by a spring 32, Figs. 7,and 8, one end ,of which is fastened to a pin 33, depending from thelever 2O through a curved slot 34, in the supporting plate, the oppositeend being secured to a pin 35, depending from the plate.

This return ofthe lever 20 may also be effected as will be hereinafterexplained. Likewise the locking arm 27 is normally maintained in itslocking position, by a spring 36, the ends of which are respectivelysecured to a pin 37, depending through a slot 38, in the supportingplate, and a pin 39, depending from the supporting plate. Thissupporting plate, between the curved portion 30 of the arm 27, and theholding strip 31, is provided with a circular opening 40, which issmaller than the diameter of the coin to be introduced into the machine,and to the left of said opening 40 is formed an opening 41, large enoughto permit the coin to drop therethrough.

The strip 31 is continued to, and partially surrounds, the inner side ofsaid opening 41, providing a curved wall 42, of double thickness on saidinner side, see Fig. 3, which prevents the coin passing inwardly overthe opening and directs said coin into said opening.

A bell crank is pivoted at the jointure point of the two arms 43 and 44,to the supporting plate by a pivot 45. The outer arm 43 of said bellcrank extends over the outer portion of the opening 41, and is providedwith a curved recess 46, to receive and fit the curved edge of the coin,and a tapering outer extremity 47. The inner arm 44 extends inwardly atapproximately a right angle from the inner extremity of the outer arm43, and carries a vertical, upwardly projecting pin 48, near its innerend.

A segmental gear 49, which meshes with the pinion 18, has a bearingcollar 50, at one side, which is mounted on a pin 51, ex-

tending vertically from the supporting plate, so as to rock horizontallythereon. To provide means for rocking said segmental gear, a slot 52, isformed in one side thereof, into which the pin 48 projects and slides.

Over the ratchet wheel 19 there is located a fly wheel 53, fixed to theshaft 16. To one of the spokes of this liy wheel there is pivoted a dog54, the extreme end of whichis hook-shaped, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13,at 54, and engages the ratchet ring 19, whereby the latter element, bypulling the dog, imparts rotative movement communicated to it by thegear pinion 18, to the fly wheel and to the shaft 16 and the indicatingpointer 17, the rotation of said ily wheel, the shaft, and the indexpointer being, obviously, in one direction only, but may continue by themomentum of the fly wheel after the pinion 18 and the ratchet ring 19have come to rest.

The detent 55, pivotally mounted on a stud 65, projecting upwardly fromthe supporting plate 3, and of substantially l`shaped contour, has onone terminal of its cross bar 66, a'sharp edged element 68, while at theopposite end of the cross bar 66 there is formed a hook 57. At one sideof this detent 55 there is pivotally mounted, on a stud 64, rising fromthe supporting plate 3, a substantially l'shaped catch lever 67, saidcatch lever having at one extremity of its cross bar 63, a. hook 58,which hook is constructed to engage the hook 57 on the detent 55, and tokeep the sharp edged element 68 thereof out of Contact with the ratchetteeth 23 on the coin moving lever 20, as will hereinafter more fullyappear.

In Fig. 3, the detent and the catch lever are shown disengaged from eachother, with the detent in a position ready for locking engagement withthe toothed rack 23. This detent and the catch are normally maintainedin locking position by the springs 59 and 60.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1, a suitable coin isintroduced through the opening 9 in the cover 4, and drops upon thesupporting plate 3, into a position between the locking arm 27 and theholding strip 31, and then the coin moving lever 20, with its curved arm24, is rotated on the central shaft 16, by the finger pin 25. Thiscauses a coin held in the curved extremity 30 of the locking arm 27, andbearing against the edge of the fixed plate 31, to force the locking armaway from said coin moving lever 20 to permit the laterally extendinglug 28 on the locking arm to recede from the indentation 29, to releasethe coin moving lever 20, which lever may then continue its rotativemovement so that, when the coin reaches the inclined extremity 47 of thearm 43 and continues its movement, said arm 43 will be forced away fromthe fixed plate 31.

This movement of the arm 43 causes a corresponding movement olf the arm44, which, in turn, by its pin 48 operating in the slot 52 of thesegmental gear 49, rotates the segmental gear 49 on its pivot 51. Thislatter movement causes the rotatiomof the gear pinion 18, withoutimparting rotative movement to the shaft 16 directly, but indirectlythrough the ratchet wheel on the pinion, and the dog on the ily wheel,which fly wheel is fixed to the shaft 16.

Again referring to the coin moving lever 20, when the coin has passedthe apex of the inclined portion 47 of the arm 43, as illustrated inFig. 6, it enters the curved recess 46, and then passes into the curvedexcision 42 in the fixed plate 31, to drop through the coin opening 41in the supporting plate 3, into the coin receptacle. This coin beingdisposed of, the bell crank with its arms 43, 44, is ready to return toits normal position shown in Fig. 3. Vhen this coin mQving lever 20 hasonce been started on its final forward movement, it cannot be retracteduntil it has completed its forward movement, being prevented by thesharp extremity 68 of the detent 55 engaging the ratchet teeth 23 on theenlarged portion 22 of the coin moving lever 20. This enlarged portion22 is provided with a curved arm 61, the extremity of which engages thedetent 55, and lifting it, releases the coin moving lever 20, and attheisame time causes engagement of the hook 57 on the detent 55 with thehook 58 on the catch lever 67, thus holding the detent away from theteeth 23.

When the coin moving lever starts on its return movement, the curved arm61 on the enlarged portion 22 thereof, parts from contact with thedetent 55, but leaves the same in its then occupying position shown inFig. 6, so that when the coin moving lever approaches the limit of itsreturn movement, the extremity of the coin moving lever carrying themanipulating pin 25, will contact with the stem 56 on the catch lever67, and lifting the same, causes the hooks 57 and 58 to separate,thereby releasing the detent 55 and permitting it to resume its normalposition shown in Fig, 3, the bell crank lever having been returned toits normal position by the spring 32, assisted by the curved arm 61 onthe coin moving lever, engaging an extension 70, on the bell crank leverarm 44, so that, when the coin moving lever nally reaches its retractedposition, all of the operating parts of the machine have returned totheir normal position, ready for receiving the next coin.

When the gear pinion 18, and the ratchet ring 19, have been set inmotion as described, the dog 54 pivoted to the fly wheel 53 engages theratchet teeth on said ring 19, thereby causing a rather rapid rotationof the fly Wheel, and with it, that of the shaft 16 and the indexpointer thereon, which index pointer is, preferably, a resilient, thin,

blade which sweeps over the ratchet teeth 15 on the fixed band 14, untilthe speed of the fly wheel 53 slackens sufficiently to cause the indexpointer to lodge in one or the other of the tooth spaces, and therebyarrest the movement of the said index pointer and the fly wheel. If theindex hand points to the characters 2 or 3 on the dial when it stops, itindicates that one or two extra articles are to be given as a premium,otherwise the purchaser secures but one.

I have heretofore stated that there is in the supporting plate 3 anopening smaller signed to prevent a coin of less value than the propercoin to be employed from being used in the machine, so that should apenny be dropped into the coin opening in the cover, instead of anickel,7 the penny will pass through the opening 40, and is, thereby,forfeited to the intending purchaser.

ll have hereinbefore disclosed the preferred mode of practising myinvention, but reserve the right to make such and any changes as mightoccur to one skilled in the art to which this invention appertains,without departing from the scope of my invention, as defined in thesubjoined claims.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention 1 claim as new and desire tosecure to myself by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a machineof the class described, a receptacle, a supporting plate in saidreceptacle, indicating mechanism mounted above said plate, and includinga dial, a shaft, an indicating hand on said shaft, a pinion, and coincontrolled actuating means for said indicating mechanism having asegmental gear meshing with the pinion.

2. In apmachine of the class described, a receptacle, a supporting platein said receptacle, indicating mechanism mounted above said plate, andincluding a dial, a shaft, an indicating hand on said shaft, a pinion,coin controlled actuating means for said indicating mechanism having asegmental gear meshing with the. pinion, and a coin controlled releasedspring returned lever for rocking said segmental gear.

In a machine of the class described, a receptacle, a supporting plate insaid receptacle, an outer top cover over said supporting' plate, saidplate and cover being separated sufficiently to leave a narrow space inwhich a coin might be moved fiat-wise, a rotatable element constructedto move said coin, a bell crank lever actuated by said moving coin,indicating mechanism,l said indicating mechanism being actuated by saidbell crank lever, and mechanism constructed to lock said coin movingelement against rotation when an improper coin is placed into themachine.

4. In a machine of the class described, a receptacle, a supporting platein said receptacle, an outer top cover over said supporting plate, saidplate and cover being separated sufficiently to leave a narrow space inwhich a coin might be slipped edgewise, coin controlled actuatingelements movably mounted in said space, a central dome on the cover, andindicating mechanism arranged in said dome, said coin controlledelements including a coin moving lever, a bell crank, said bell crankbeing actuated by a coin when moved by said bell crank lever, andmechanism actuated by said bell crank lever constructed to rotate saidindicating mechanism.

5. 1n a machine of the class described, a

receptacle, a supporting` plate in said receptacle, an outer top coverover said supporting plate, said plate and cover being separatedsufficiently to leave a narrow space in which a coin might be slippededgevvise, coin controlled actuating elements movably mounted in saidspace, a, central dome on the cover, a dial in said dome, a rotatableshaft vertically mounted in the cover and dome and operatively connectedto the actuating elements, and an indicating hand carried by said shaft.

6. In a machine of the class described, a receptacle, a supporting platein said receptacle, an outer top cover over said supporting plate, saidplate and cover being separated sufficiently to leave a nari-ovv spacein which a coin might be slipped edgeWise, coin controlled actuatingelements movably mounted in said space, said elements being adapted tobeshifted in one direction by the introduction of a coin, return springsfor said elements, and indicating mechanism arranged over said elements,said indicating mechanism being rotatably connected and operated by saidcoin actuating elements with said coin as an intermediary between saidactuating elements.

7. ln a machine of the class described, a receptacle, a dial over saidreceptacle, a rotary indicating hand, a Vertical shaft supporting saidindicating hand, a ratchet ring on said shaft, a fly Wheel mountedloosely on said shaft, a pivotal locking dog depending from the flyWheel and engaging the ratchet ring, and coin controlled mechanism forrotating said shaft.

8. 1n an apparatus of the nature described, the combination of a coindepository, a supporting plate horizontally disposed in said Y coindepository, a shaft centrally journaled in said supporting plate, a gearpinion loosely mounted on said shaft, a ratchet ring fixed to saidpinion, a fiy Wheel, a dog depending from said fly Wheel, an indicatorpointer at the upper end of said shaft, and mechanism operable after acoin has been dropped into the apparatus for rotating said pinion, therotation of said pinion imparting rotative movement to said shaft andthe index pointer. v

9. In an apparatus of the nature described, the combination, of a coindepository, a horizontally disposed supporting plate in said coindepository, a horizontally disposed, fixed dial plate above saidsupporting plate, a vertically disposed shaft centrally journaled insaid supporting plate and in said fixed dial plate, a gear pinionloosely mounted on said shaft, a ratchet ring fixed to said pinion, afly Wheel mounted on said shaft, a. dog depending from said fly `wheeland constructed to engage said ratchet ring, an indicator pointer at theupper end of said shaft, and mechanism operable after a coin has beendropped into the apparatus for rotating said pinion, the rotation ofsaid pinion imparting rotative movement to said shaft and said indicatorpointer.

10. 1n an apparatus of the nature described, the combination, of a coindepository, a horizontally disposed supporting plate in said coindepository, a horizontally disposed, fixed dial plate above saidsupporting plate, a ratchet ring fixed to said dial plate, a verticallydisposed shaft journaled in said supporting plate and said dial plate, agear pinion loosely mounted on said shaft, a ratchet ring fixed to saidpinion, a fly Wheel mounted on said shaft, a dog depending from said flyWheel and constructed to engage the last-mentioned ratchet ring, anindex pointer at the upper end of said shaft, and mechanism operableafter a coin has been dropped into the apparatus for rotating said gearpinion, the rotation of said ratchet ring on said pinion impartingrotative movement to said shaft and said index pointer.

11. ln an apparatus of the nature described, the combination, of a coinreceptacle, a supporting plate horizontally disposed in said coinreceptacle, a dial plate above said supporting plate, a ratchet ringfixed to said dial plate, a vertically disposed shaft journaled in saidsupporting plate and said dial plate, a gear pinion loosely mounted onsaid shaft, a ratchet ring fixed to said pinion, a fly Wheel mounted onsaid shaft, a dog depending from said fly Wheel and constructed toengage said ratchet ring on said pinion, an indicator pointer at theupper end of said shaft, and mechanism constructed to rotate said shaft,after a coin has been placed into the apparatus, said indicator pointerbeing adapted to engage the ratchet ring on the dial plate When therotation of said shaft slackens.

12. In an apparatus of the nature described, the combination, of a coinreceptacle, a supporting plate horizontally disposed in said coinreceptacle, a cover plate for said coin receptacle, said supportingplate being in close adjacency to said cover plate, but suflicientlyspaced therefrom to permit a coin to be moved in said space, a coinopening in said cover plate, mechanism located in said space for movinga coin in said space, rotatable mechanism on said supporting plate, saidrotatable mechanism having` an index pointer, said rotatable mecha` nismbeing operable after a coin has been dropped into the apparatus, and afixed dial plate, there being means on said dial plate constructed toarrest said index pointer when rotating at sloW speed.

18. In an apparatus of the nature described, the combination, of a coinreceptacle, a cover for said receptacle, a xed dial plate in said cover,there being in said cover a coin receiving opening, a horizontallydisposed supporting plate in yclose proximity to said cover, coin movingmechanism in the space between said supporting plate and -said cover, avertically disposed shaft journaled in said supporting plate and saiddial plate, an index pointer at the upper end of said shaft, andmechanism operable by said coin moving mechanism when moving said cointo rotate said shaftand said index pointer.

14. In an apparatus of the nature described, the combination, of a coinreceptacle, a dome on said coin receptacle, said dome having a laterallyextending flange, a coin opening in said flange, a supporting platebelow said flange, said supporting plate being in close proximity tosaid flange but spaced suiiiciently therefrom to permit a coin droppedthrough said coin opening upon said supporting plate to be movedthereon, a dial plate affixed to said supporting plate and reachingWithin said dome, a transparent top plate for said dome, an indexpointer above said dial plate, mechanism constructed to rotate saidindex pointer after a coin has been moved on said supporting plate, andmeans on said supporting plate for moving said coin.

15. In an apparatus of the nature described, the combination, of a coinreceptacle, a cover plate on said coin receptacle, there being in saidcover plate a coin receiving opening, a supporting plate beneath saidcover plate, a centrally located shaft ournaled in said supportingplate, a coin moving lever rotatably mounted on said shaft in closeproximity to said supporting plate, a bell crank lever pivotally mountedon said supporting plate, said bell crank lever having tvvo arms, asegmental gear wheel rotatablymounted on said supporting plate saidsegmental gear Wheel'being operatively connected to one arm of said bellcrank lever, a fixed dial plate supported on said supporting plate, anindex pointer at the upper end of said shaftl over said dial plate, andmechanism operable by said segmental gear Wheel for rot-ating said shaftand said index pointer.

16. In an apparatus of the nature described, the combination, of a coinreceptacle, a cover plate for said coin receptacle, said cover platehaving a coin receiving opening, a supporting plate underneath, and inspaced relationship to, said cover plate, a coin moving lever pivotallysecured to said supporting plate, there being on said coin moving levera ratchet toothed lmeinber, said ratchet toothed member having a curvedarm, a detent pivotally mounted on said supporting plate, said detenthaving a sharp extremity constructed to engage said ratchet teeth, saiddetent being constructed to be moved by said curved arm, a catch leverpivotally mounted on said supporting plate, said detent and said catchlever having hooks constructed to engage each other to keep the detentfrom engaging said ratchet teeth, said catch lever having a. stemconstructed nto be moved by said coin moving lever to liberate saiddetent.

17. In an apparatus of the nature described, the combination, of a coinreceptacle, a supporting plate adjacent the upper margin of said coinreceptacle, a cover plate over said supporting plate and in closelyspaced relation thereto, said cover plate having a coin receivingopening, a coin moving lever pivotally mounted on said supporting plate,a fixed plate on said supporting plate in spaced relationship to saidcoin moving lever, a locking arm pivotally mounted on said supportingplate adj acent'to said coin moving lever, said locking` arm having acurved terminal reaching slightly beyond one terminal of said fixedplate, said fixed plate having at the other terminal a curvedindentation, a coin opening in said supporting plate registering Withsaid curved indentation, a bell crank lever, a fixed dial plate, anindex pointer over said fixed dial plate, and mechanism for rotatingsaid index pointer when a coin is being moved by .said coin moving leverand passes in front of said fixed plate.

18. In a machine of the nature described, the combination, of asupporting plate, a coin moving lever pivotally mounted on saidsupporting plate, a pivotally mounted locking lever for said coin movinglever, a fixed plate in spaced relationship to said coin moving lever,said coin moving leverv having at one of its terminals an indentation,said locking lever having a projection adapted to engage saidindentation, said indentation being longer than the length of saidprojection, said coin moving lever having an initial, limited, movementgoverned by the length of said indentation, whereby a coin of properdiameter placed in front of the terminal of the coin moving lever Whenbeing moved by said coin moving lever, will push the locking lever avvayfrom the coin moving lever to disengage said coin moving lever, While acoin of smaller diameter than the' proper coin Will be inoperative inreleasing said coin moving lever.

19. In an apparatus of the nature described, the combination, of asupporting plate, therev being in said supporting plate an opening largeenough to permit a normal coin to pass therethrough, a coin moving leverpivotally mounted on said supporting plate, a locking arm pivotallymounted on said supporting plate in adjacency to said coin moving lever,a fixed plate on said supporting plate adjacent to said coin openingtherein, and means on said coin moving lever and on said fixed plate andsaid locking arm constructed to prevent operative movement of said coinmoving lever, unless a coin of proper diameter is located on saidsupporting plate in front of said coin moving lever.

20. In an apparatusof the nature described, a casing, a horizontallydisposed supporting plate therein, a horizontally rotatable Wheel above'said supporting plate, a coin receiving element, Wheel rotating` meansactuated by a coin deposited in said coin receiving element, a coinimpelling lever on said horizontally disposed supporting plate, and arelease paWl constructed to engage said impelling lever When an impropertolren is placed in said coin receiving element and to release saidimpelling lever when a proper coin is being impelled.

2l. In an apparatus of the nature described, the combination, of a coindepository comprising a casing, a cover plate for said casing, ahorizontally disposed supporting plate in said casing adjacent to saidcover plate, a dome above said cover plate, said dome having atransparent cover, a coin receiving element in said cover plate, ahorizontally rotatable Wheel in said dome, Wheel rotating means in saiddome, coin impelling mechanism mounted on said horizontally dis osedplate, said coin impelling mechanism eing operative when a proper coinis located on said supporting plate to rotate said Wheel, said coinimpelling mechanism being inoperative when an improper coin is placedinto the apparatus.

22. In a machine of the nature described, the combination, of a coindepository, including a casing, a cover plate for said casing, therebeing a coin receiving element in said cover plate, a horizontallydisposed supporting plate underneath said cover plate, a superstructureon said cover plate, a transparent top for said superstructure, ahorizontally rotatable vvheel in said superstructure, means for rotatingsaid Wheel, coin impelling mechanism mounted on said horizontallydisposed supporting plate, said coin impelling mechanism beingconstructed to actuate said Wheel rotating mechanism by impelling acoin.

23. In a machine of the nature described, a coin depository` including acasing, a horizontally disposed supporting plate in said casing, a coverfor said casing over said horizontally disposed supporting plate, therebeing in said cover a coin receiving element, a horizontally disposedWheel above said supporting plate, Wheel rotating means, means on saidhorizontally disposed supporting plate for impelling a coin, said coinbeing the intermediary for actuating the Wheel rotating means inconjunction With said impelling means.

24. In a machine of the nature described, a coin depository, including acasing, a horizontally disposed supportingplate in said casing, a coverfor said casing over said horizontally disposed supporting plate, therebeing in said cover a coin-receiving element, a horizontally disposedWheel above said supporting plate, Wheel rotating means, means on saidhorizontally disposed supporting plate i'or impelling a coin, said coinbeing the intermediary for actuating the Wheel rotating means inconjunction With said impelling means, and means for locking said coinimpelling mechanism to prevent operation thereof when an improper coinis placed into the machine.

25. A device of the class described, including, in combination, acasing, a supporting plate therein, a coin path thereon, a coinreceiving element in connection there/With, a coin lever constructed toimpel a coin along said path, a bell crank on said plate projecting intosaid path and actuated by a coin traveling in said path, a gear trainactuated by said bell crank, a ratchet Wheel in connection With saidgear train, a vvheel rotatably supported above said plate, and a paWl inconnection with said Wheel engaging said ratchet wheel.

26. A device of the class described, including, in combination, acasing, a supporting plate therein, a coin .path thereon, a coinreceiving element in connection therewith, a coin lever constructed toimpel a coin along said path, an arm on said plate intersecting saidcoin path and actuated by a coin travcling said path, a Wheel, Wheelrotating mechanism actuated by said arm, and means connecting said Wheelto said actuating means to rotate said Wheel in one direction only.

27. A device of the class described, including, in combination, acasing, a supporting plate therein, a coin path thereon, a coinreceiving element in connection therewith, a coin lever constructed toimpel a coin along said path, an arm intersecting said coin path andactuated by a coin travcling said path, an extension on said arm, and anarm on said coin lever constructed to coact with said extension toreturn said intersecting arm.

Q8. A device of the class described, including, in combination, a coinimpelling lever, said lever having a ratchet gear segment, a trip paWlconstructed to engage said ratchet gear segment to prevent reversemovement of said coin impelling lever, there being an arm on said coinimpelling lever constructed to move said trip pawl out of engagementwith said ratchet gear segment, a trip lever, said trip lever having onearm constructed to maintain said trip paWl in en gaged position with thetrip lever, and another arm actuated by said coin impelling leverconstructed to release said trip pavvl from said trip lever.

Q9. ln a device of the class described, a coin lever, an oscillatingplate actuated in one direction by said coin lever, 4spring means forreturning` said plate to normal position, a catch constructed to preventthe return of said plate, and means actuated by said coin lever fortripping said catch, the

latter means including a pivoted trip lever,

said trip lever having one of its arms engaged by said coin impellinglever on the latter-s return trip, the other arm of said trip leverbeing constructed to engage an arm on said catch.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereuntoset my hand.

GEORGE KERN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each,- by addressingthe Commissionerof Patents, Washington, D. 0.,

